A/N: Hello again. So the vetting process was successful and now my novel appears on my profile "Can I Magic Please". If you enjoy my other stories, definitely check it out. Its about magic, different races and several other stuff. Plus it would help me in my dream of winning the WSA 2026.
Thank you very much. And enjoy the chapter :)
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The royal office of Coleus had become strangely peaceful.
At least on the surface.
Sunlight poured through the tall windows.
Paperwork covered nearly every inch of Testarossa's desk.
Ultima lounged lazily nearby with yet another glass of wine in hand.
Shizue sat across from Testarossa quietly, observing the Primordial Demon work.
The sheer efficiency was honestly terrifying.
Testarossa signed documents without hesitation.
Read reports at impossible speed.
Issued orders to servants and officials while simultaneously reviewing trade records.
It did not feel like watching a person work.
It felt like watching an entire government condensed into one woman.
Another document was set aside.
Then Testarossa sighed lightly.
"The Sorcerous Dynasty has officially severed ties as well."
Shizue blinked.
"They already did?"
Testarossa nodded calmly.
"Three days ago."
She tapped a neatly folded letter sitting atop another pile.
"A formal notice from Empress Elmesia herself."
Ultima snorted.
"That elf queen moves quickly."
"She's intelligent," Testarossa corrected calmly, "which is why this is troublesome."
Ultima raised an eyebrow.
"Troublesome?"
"We still have military superiority."
"Who cares if humans dislike us?"
Testarossa finally looked up from her paperwork.
"Because kingdoms do not run purely on strength."
Ultima looked unconvinced.
Testarossa folded her hands together elegantly.
"Coleus is not a naturally prosperous nation."
She gestured lightly toward a large map spread across the desk.
The kingdom occupied a harsh region near the western edge of the Great Jura Forest and the wastelands beyond.
Desert terrain.
Rock formations.
Dry climates.
Sparse resources.
"Most of Coleus consists of arid land," Testarossa explained calmly.
"Farming capacity is limited."
"Natural resources are average at best."
"Trade routes are difficult."
Shizue listened carefully.
Testarossa continued.
"The kingdom's primary source of income comes from adventurers."
Ultima tilted her head slightly.
"Adventurers?"
Testarossa nodded.
"Coleus sits near dangerous wastelands populated by monsters."
"Powerful ones."
"Because of that, adventurers gather here in large numbers to hunt."
Monster materials.
Magic crystals.
Rare ores.
Magical plants.
All of those flowed through Coleus.
"The kingdom profits through guild taxes, lodging, equipment trade, merchant exchange, and transportation."
In short—
Coleus functioned as a frontier economy.
A dangerous one.
"But now," Testarossa said calmly, "the Western Nations Council has branded Coleus politically unstable."
She tapped another document.
"Merchants are already hesitating."
"Trade caravans will decrease."
"Guild cooperation may weaken."
"Foreign investment will collapse."
Ultima clicked her tongue.
"So humans are being annoying."
"Yes."
Testarossa did not sugarcoat it.
"The large nations will not attack us directly."
"They are not suicidal."
A faint dangerous smile crossed her face.
"Even humans understand not to invade the territory of a Demon Lord."
"But isolation…"
Her expression returned to calm professionalism.
"…is another matter."
Shizue thought quietly for a moment.
Then she spoke carefully.
"What if you focused more on adventurer relations directly?"
Testarossa looked toward her.
Shizue continued.
"If adventurers continue gathering here, merchants will naturally follow eventually."
"Especially if monster materials remain valuable."
Ultima listened while lazily drinking wine.
Shizue thought a little more before continuing.
"You could also lower taxes temporarily."
"Offer protections for merchants."
"Maybe even establish direct trade incentives with independent guild branches instead of relying on nations."
Testarossa's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…I see."
Shizue looked mildly embarrassed.
"I'm not really experienced with politics, but…"
"No."
Testarossa interrupted smoothly.
"That is useful."
Very useful, actually.
Independent guild influence.
Reduced merchant tariffs.
Stability incentives.
Those ideas would genuinely soften the economic blow.
Testarossa smiled faintly.
Then unexpectedly reached over and patted Shizue gently on the head.
"You are far more useful than Ultima, Velzard, and Carrera combined."
Ultima nearly choked on her wine.
"Excuse me?"
Shizue herself looked startled.
Testarossa ignored Ultima completely.
Ultima pointed at herself indignantly.
"I handle legal affairs for this kingdom!"
"Not diplomacy!"
"You try managing criminal organizations, corrupt nobles, and internal disputes all day!"
Testarossa answered immediately.
"And yet Shizue-san still contributed more within five minutes."
Ultima looked genuinely offended.
"That's slander."
Shizue laughed awkwardly while Ultima continued grumbling under her breath.
For a brief moment, the room felt oddly normal.
Then Testarossa's gaze drifted toward the window.
Toward the distant western horizon.
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Still."
Shizue noticed the shift immediately.
"What is it?"
Testarossa rested one elbow against the desk.
"What concerns me most…"
A quiet pause followed.
"…is what Empress Elmesia plans to do next."
Because unlike the smaller western nations—
Elmesia was not emotional.
Nor foolish.
She was intelligent.
Careful.
Patient.
And dangerous.
Testarossa knew very well that people like that were the hardest to predict.
--
Within the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion, lunch was a far more elegant affair than in most nations.
A massive terrace overlooked crystal lakes and towering white spires that shimmered beneath the afternoon sun.
Servants moved quietly.
Tea steamed gently from expensive porcelain cups.
The table itself was covered in refined dishes prepared with almost artistic precision.
At the center sat Empress Elmesia El Ru Sarion.
Across from her sat her mother—
Sylvia El Ru.
Unlike her daughter's playful elegance, Sylvia carried an air of mature authority.
Even sitting casually, the former ruler of Sarion radiated pressure.
The two women calmly ate while discussing the recent events shaking the Western Nations.
"The council acted faster than expected," Sylvia commented lightly while cutting into her meal.
"Eliminating Coleus immediately…"
Elmesia sipped her tea.
"Well, humans are predictable."
"A Demon Lord suddenly conquers a kingdom and everyone panics."
Sylvia looked amused.
"And what do you think your Demon Lord will do about it?"
"My Demon Lord?"
Elmesia smiled faintly.
"You know exactly what I mean."
Sylvia rested her chin lightly against one hand.
"I think he'll raze several western nations to the ground."
Her tone was completely serious.
"A being with that level of strength being politically isolated?"
"He'll retaliate."
"A Demon Lord's pride is not something humans should toy with."
Elmesia shook her head calmly.
"I disagree."
Sylvia raised an eyebrow.
"You trust him that much already?"
"Not trust."
Elmesia corrected her immediately.
"Assessment."
She leaned back slightly.
"Leon told me enough."
"He said Loki is difficult to understand."
"Dangerous."
"Completely unpredictable at times."
A small smile crossed her face.
"But not cruel."
Sylvia remained unconvinced.
"He still conquered a human kingdom."
"Yes."
Elmesia nodded calmly.
"But from everything we know, the previous king of Coleus was filth."
"Sacrificing his own daughter for immortality rituals."
"Working with dangerous individuals."
"He practically handed Loki justification."
Sylvia hummed thoughtfully.
Elmesia continued.
"Loki is not like Guy Crimson."
"Nor like certain older Demon Lords."
"He doesn't massacre people for entertainment."
"He's more…"
She paused briefly.
"…a battle addict."
Someone who enjoyed conflict.
Strong opponents.
Excitement.
But not meaningless slaughter.
"He likes fighting," Elmesia said lightly, "not genocide."
Sylvia crossed her arms.
"And yet you still cut trade relations with Coleus."
Elmesia smiled immediately.
"That's different."
Sylvia gave her a flat look.
"You are testing him."
"Obviously."
Elmesia did not even deny it.
"It's interesting."
She swirled her tea lazily.
"If he immediately responds with violence, then we know negotiations are impossible."
"But if he restrains himself…"
Her eyes gleamed slightly.
"…then that tells me something important about his character."
Sylvia sighed.
"You treat geopolitics like a game."
"It is a game."
Elmesia smiled brightly.
"A very dangerous one."
Before Sylvia could respond further, footsteps approached from nearby.
A royal messenger entered the terrace before kneeling respectfully.
"Your Majesty."
Elmesia looked over casually.
"What is it?"
"A letter from the Kingdom of Coleus."
That immediately drew both women's attention.
Elmesia blinked slightly.
"…Already?"
The messenger stepped forward carefully and presented the sealed document.
Elmesia accepted it with mild curiosity.
Sylvia smirked faintly.
"Well?"
"Read it."
Elmesia broke the seal calmly.
Her eyes moved across the contents.
Then—
Slowly—
A smile spread across her face.
Sylvia noticed immediately.
"…What does it say?"
Elmesia laughed softly.
"Oh, this is wonderful."
She held up the letter slightly.
"It's an apology."
Sylvia blinked once.
"…What?"
Elmesia continued reading aloud.
"To Her Imperial Majesty of the Sorcerous Dynasty."
"The Kingdom of Coleus deeply regrets the hostile circumstances surrounding its recent change in leadership…"
She smiled wider.
"There's more."
"It claims there is an explanation for the takeover."
"And…"
Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"…they are requesting a formal diplomatic meeting."
Sylvia stared at her silently for several seconds.
Then sighed.
"…You win the bet."
Elmesia looked unbearably smug.
"I told you."
"Loki is not an irrational monster."
"In fact…"
She folded the letter carefully.
"…this is surprisingly civilized."
Very civilized, actually.
More than most human rulers.
Elmesia looked toward one of her attendants.
"Arrange the meeting."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The attendant bowed immediately.
As preparations began, Elmesia glanced once more toward the letter in her hand.
A faint smile lingered on her lips.
Interesting.
Very interesting indeed.
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